46% Support the Return of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The Horniman Museum in London, UK, will return 72 prized antiques to Nigeria, including its collection of the Benin Bronzes. The museum board took a unanimous decision to return these. Once transferred, the artifacts will be in the ownership and care of the Nigerian government. But there have been debates regarding the ownership of the artifacts. Some favor returning artifacts, whereas some private collectors and art museums are reluctant to. These antiques are the most viewed and prized collections in the world. Some were gifted, passed on, or illegally smuggled and bought by their current owners, who are too attached to their ‘belongings’.

For this reason, Real Research, an online survey app, launched a survey on the British Museum to return 72 artifacts to Nigeria. The survey also wants to determine if all the artifacts will be rightfully returned or not by others in possession. The survey also aims to discover what the colonization era was like for the people affected.

Highlights:

• 63.47% of respondents that reside in their country were colonized
• 15.41% feel the era of colonization was violent
• 10.5% think one of the effects of colonization was having no rights to ownership

Survey on the British Museum to Return 72 Artifacts to Nigeria

The survey on British Museum to Return Artifacts to Nigeria starts by asking if the country respondents currently reside in have previously been colonized. In reply, a majority of 63.47% replied ‘yes’, 18.25% said ‘yes, most probably’, and 18.29% replied ‘no’.

Likewise, the survey also asked how respondents would describe the era of colonization. Here, 34.64% describe it as exploitative, and 15.41% feel it is violent. Moreover, 11.91% think it was oppressive, and 10% found it racist. Further on, 7.63% said that it was barbaric. In contrast, 7% thought it was a revolutionary era, 6.84% considered it reformative, and 5.76% thought it was enlightening.

Also Read: Survey on The World’s Most Famous Museums and Art Galleries

In the 19th century, the British targeted and colonized Nigeria due to its abundant natural gas, minerals, coal, and more. The British Museum to Return Artifacts to Nigeria survey asked respondents if they were aware of this. The majority of respondents (56.99%) said yes, they were well aware of it, whereas 22.5% replied yes, but were unaware of any details. Meanwhile, 20.51% replied no.

46% of Respondents Support The Return of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The British museum currently holds 900 artifacts from the largest Benin Bronzes collection that was looted from the Ancient Kingdom of Benin. After much consultation, the board of trustees concluded that returning artifacts to their country of origin would be the only right option. For this reason, the survey asked how likely respondents agree with this. 46% chose ‘highly agree’, 20% agree, and 18.85% are neutral about returning the artifacts. In comparison, 10.74% disagree, and only 0.39% highly disagree about returning the artifacts.

Due to immense political pressure, British and several European governments are being requested to return these artifacts. In this regard, the British Museum to Return Artifacts to Nigeria survey asked respondents if they agreed with this request. In response, 39.38% highly agree, 17.22% agree, and 16.20% are neutral about this request. Meanwhile, 8% disagree, and 7.83% highly disagree about the British Museum returning the artifacts.

Also Read: 46.73% Find Painting To Be the Most Interesting Form of Art

Verdict on European Museums and Colonizers and Their Reluctancy

The survey on British Museum to Return Artifacts to Nigeria further asked if European museums and colonizers should relinquish and support the Return of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. In response, 40.8% think ’yes, it rightfully belongs to the country of origin.’ Other 14.18% responded, ‘yes, they have stolen enough.’

9.13% believe ‘yes, it’s an integral part of these countries’ culture, religions, etc.’ A further 7.67% also said yes, since there is political pressure. In contrast, 6.97% feel ‘no, after centuries, it now belongs in the British Museum.’

Finally, British Museum to Return Artifacts to Nigeria survey asked respondents, besides stealing resources and valuables, what are the other effects of colonization. 39.89% chose the loss of freedom, and 10.5% think there are no rights to ownership. 9.21% believe no sense of native identity left after colonization, similar to 8.94% feeling ‘deculturalization’. Moreover, 8.26% experience loss of old traditional values and customs.

Also Read: 24.20% Find it Fair to Boycott Artists Who Didn’t Boycott Russia